Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

`ncursesw6-config(1)` on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs

ncursesw6-config is the ncurses helper that reports compiler flags, link flags and install paths. It is not in the base Solnix system: install pkgs.solnix.ncurses. The Solnix and Linux pages list the same options, and the bundle shows no BSD counterpart.

The manual pages

Solnix: ncursesw6-config(1) from pkgs.solnix.ncurses
Linux: ncursesw6-config(1) ncurses-6.6

What Solnix runs

Not installed by default: add pkgs.solnix.ncurses. The bundle lists no other variants shipped with illumos. The published page documents ncurses 6.5 (2024-04-20); the Linux page documents ncurses 6.6 (2024-05-11).

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
Linux	same program and options	Solnix and Linux ship the same ncurses helper with the same synopsis and the same 16 options. The only text differences are the ncurses release (6.5 vs 6.6), the page date, and the example store paths. Source: Solnix ncursesw6-config(1) SYNOPSIS, OPTIONS; Linux ncursesw6-config(1) SYNOPSIS, OPTIONS
Linux	example paths are Nix store paths	The `--terminfo` and `--terminfo-dirs` examples on both pages are `/nix/store/...` paths, differing only in hash and version (ncurses-6.5 vs ncurses-6.6). They are examples, not fixed locations. Query the option to get the real path. Source: Solnix ncursesw6-config(1) --terminfo, --terminfo-dirs; Linux ncursesw6-config(1) --terminfo, --terminfo-dirs
Linux	release documented	The Solnix page documents ncurses 6.5 and the Linux page documents ncurses 6.6. The option lists are identical, so the bundle shows no option change between these releases. Source: Solnix ncursesw6-config(1) footer (ncurses 6.5, 2024-04-20); Linux ncursesw6-config(1) footer (ncurses 6.6, 2024-05-11)
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	no BSD counterpart in the bundle	The bundle has no FreeBSD, OpenBSD or NetBSD page for ncursesw6-config. The manual cannot say whether those systems ship this helper or how they locate ncurses flags. Source: Bundle header lists only a Linux counterpart
all four	`--help` and `--version` override other options	On Solnix and Linux, `--help` and `--version` cause all other options to be ignored. Each issues its output and exits successfully, so combining them with other options returns only the help or version text. Source: Solnix ncursesw6-config(1) OPTIONS (last paragraph); Linux ncursesw6-config(1) OPTIONS
Linux	`--termpath` depends on termcap support	`--termpath` reports the TERMPATH search path only if termcap support is configured in the build. Both pages say this, so a build without termcap may report nothing useful. Source: Solnix ncursesw6-config(1) --termpath; Linux ncursesw6-config(1) --termpath

Standards

POSIX: ncursesw6-config is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.

Writing portable scripts

Call ncursesw6-config --cflags and --libs instead of hard-coding ncurses paths, and check that the command exists first. On Solnix it needs pkgs.solnix.ncurses.
Treat the --terminfo and --terminfo-dirs example paths as examples only. Read the real values from the command at build time.

Every difference here is taken from the manual pages linked above: Solnix's published page, Linux (man-pages and the GNU and util-linux manuals), FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD. Each row names its source. Where a manual is silent, this page is too. Compiled 2026-10-26. Found a mistake? Mail hackers@lists.solnix.io.